McGraw Wins Five Billboard Honors

Tim McGraw
won five awards in country categories and performed “Angel Boy” on national television Tuesday night (Dec. 4) at the 2001 Billboard Music Awards.

Only R. Kelly, who picked up six honors in R&B contests, had more awards than McGraw. Destiny’s Child also had five wins, including artist of the year.

McGraw’s honors were for country artist of the year, male country artist of the year, country singles artist of the year, country albums artist of the year and country album of the year, for his Greatest Hits collection.

Held at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, the awards show ran just over two hours and was broadcast on the Fox network. The Billboard Music Awards are based on Billboard’s year-end charts. Winners are determined by record sales and radio airplay.

Jamie O’Neal
took honors as new country artist of the year. She presented an award and was part of the finale, an all-star performance of Marvin Gaye’s classic, “What’s Going On.”

Brooks & Dunn
’s “Ain’t Nothing ‘Bout You” was named country single of the year. “We knew when we heard it we had one of those songs that just kicks you in the gut,” Ronnie Dunn said in a news release. “You never know exactly how well a song’s going to do once it gets out there, but we kinda knew this one was one of those aggressive songs that just takes names and chews up the airwaves.”

Lee Ann Womack
, who was on hand to present an award, captured an honor outside the country field. “I Hope You Dance” was named adult contemporary single of the year.

Still unannounced the day after the awards show are this year’s winners for female country artist of the year and for country artist of year, duo or group. Wade Jessen, Billboard’s country chart manager, explains that if the award winner is not announced on the air, the winner is not named until the magazine’s year-end issue. This despite the fact that Sara Evans
, Jo Dee Messina
, O’Neal and Womack were named as finalists for the female honor, and Brooks & Dunn, Diamond Rio
, Dixie Chicks
and Lonestar
were tagged as contenders for the country group trophy.